An Extra Ordinary Life

Where have I been????

I went away for a few days and haven't come back to my Blogg since. I actually did write one when I came home for a swap of clothes but for some reason it didnt post. I was in a hurry.

It was nice to have a break away next time I will stay away for the whole week it was disconcerting coming back into real life and then leaving again. We went to the Victorian Goldfield towns of Castlemaine and Maldon. DH and I went for a weekend away in Maldon last year for his 40th and the children wanted to see what it is like. It was interesting mainly spent time exploring the Botanical Gardens and the like and saw a few mining sites in Caslemaine. We took Maldon in a few hours and just rested. I love the  2nd hand book stores up there!! So many my favourite one was not open when I arrived :(. Next time.... That was one of the best bits about this holiday. We actually were able to go into the book stores with the kids. The training is paying off. They actually enjoyed looking in the childrens section while hubby and I browsed. How great is that!!! We drove home through a place called Daylesford a wonderful place with a great lake side 2nd handbookstore. I admit we havent been to it for a few years and I was saying how great it was the shop has been there so long when we noticed the for sale sign. the owner was the same on as when I arrived in the country in 1989. I told the owner I was glad I got to see him before he moved on. He said that he was looking to simplify his life as all the children had left home. He said he was moving to a nearby town. I said to him simplify your life this looks like the best life to me!! a secondhand book shop in a tourist town near a beautiful lake... He said he meant he wanted to not have the responsibility of the shop everyday business. I guess that could be true after 15 to 20 years of making a living at that you might want to do something different. He also said the shop and property was his superannuation which makes sense. Wow to be in his position. I suppose the grass can look greener 

We came home dealt with some mil and fil stuff. They are in their 80's and needing a bit more attention. I need to prayerfully ask for patience though as they are quite willing to let us do everything even thought they still can  do quite a bit not realising that I still need to school the children as well. I have tried to implement some things to help them out but they just see it as negative. Now we just need to find them a safer place to be.

We then went to our 3rd annual homeschooling group camp. Is is so much fun just to be out and near the beach in Lorne. One of my favourite places in the world.

This we trying to get back to it even though school holidays are on already because the Commonwealth games are on here in Melbourne. I plan to work at least some of it because I think a six week term is way to shortl and that a 15 week term for 2nd term is way to long.

What's on my mind

Well I havent written for a while and now tonight I seem to be full of words. I guess I was being so tempted to spend so much time here and visiting people that I was feeling it might be beginning to be detrimental to all I want to achieve but I missed the feeling of belonging I have here and the confidence it represents when I have spare moments to ponder what I am actually doing rather than trying to stay above water. only an analogy as I think it is going pretty well and better than I thought . God is good and answers us!!!

What is on my mind???

1. Changes to our homeschooling laws in the state of Vic.

There was a forum yesterday which many people felt convicted to attend. It showed the true colors of how goverment works and I was sad to see that homeschooling is actually a very small minority. Well I know that but it really showed. The education office set up the forum but failed to mention it was not about the legislation to be passed there will be a debate in the lower house in two weeks but what kind of regulations to put in when it is paased. 5 times people asked about why the laws needed to be changed and the representative would not answer just went to the next question. Finally they handed out a piece of paper that said why. How come they couldnt have just said that. The rep might have been ignorant about what was actually on the paper I guess. These are the people who will decide how my children will be educated??? Maybe that is why I am doing this in the 1st place??? I couldnt trust them to do it.  

2. Missy Heartschooling

Praying for her family and DH for peace and comfort

3. Candace Joy-

I am so glad to see she is up and about. What a beautiful thing. A beautiful testimony to God's grace.

4. Commonwealth games

5. Enjoying the fact that for some reason this year the house is cleaner and less cluttered could it be all those little hands and the training???

6. Looking back at last year and how I was so burnt out. I really don't want to go there again

7. Working on getting in shape before my 40th birthday. Hubby was saying that I am changing maybe becoming me again...

Please Pray for Candace Joy

Dear friends,

I got a note about this on my Blogg from  my friend Janne http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Janne/  post 11/ 02/ 06

Please pray for her and her family.

http://www.candacejoy.org/

Love K

Tagged!!!

Ive been tagged!

7 Things I want to do before I die: 1) See what God has in store for my children 2) See my family in the US 3) See my friends in Europe 4) Become proficient in reading and playing music 5) Travel with my husband again 6) Die knowing that I have done what God has called me to do 7) Be known for making a difference 7 Things I cannot do well: 1) Get up early 2) Crafty things(although having children helps) 3) sew/knit/cross-stitch (make that not at all but on my to do list!) 4) Patience 5) Handwriting 6) Confrontation 7) Smooze people   7 Things that would attract me to my spouse: 1) His great big generous heart 2) His love for his family 3) The fact that he spoke two languages 4) His sensitivity to people and things 5) His beautiful brown eyes 6) His sense of humor   7) His strong but gentle hands   7 Things I say often: 1) Come on! 2) Great idea! or Is that a great idea? 3) Listen to my kids they remind me of what I say all the time!! by the way they talk.  Lol 4) What did I say? 5) Are you listening to me? 6) Beautiful! 7) That's great!!!   7 authors, books or series I love: 1) That Was Then This is Now: SE Hinton 2) Danielle Steel 3) Phillipa Carr 4) Beverly Cleary 5) Little House series 6) Chuck Swindoll 7) Any Historical Fiction 7 movies I'd watch over and over again 1) Titanic 2) Four Weddings and a Funeral  3) Room with a View 3) Stealing Heaven 4) Muriel's Wedding 5) The American President 6)  The Piano 7) Little Women (Wynona's One)   I don't know enough people to tag yet but when I do I am sure there will be seven!!!

What will you do after homeschooling??

A question on a list that I am on. I think that it is too early to tell and I have a few more years to work it out :). I suppose that I would probably go on and try and be a teacher of some sort. A man came up to me on Sunday at church ( a man that I hardly know but I see the holy spirit in him ). and said "I had a conversation about you during the week and it came out that you are a wonderful woman and would be great in youth ministry".

Well, what could I say except thanks for that word?? I will hide it in my heart.

 Food for thought though as I was going to speak to the kids church co ordinator about not making a commitment to teach Sunday school as I was not as enthusiastic as I had been at the end of last year when I mentioned I might like too. That was before I 't experienced a bit of burnout re:homeschooling  in the early weeks of Dec. I read a blog here about having seasons to do those things and I agree now is not the time. I bet I will once I finish this journey though :). Before this journey I doubt I would have thought about it, even though I always wanted to be a teacher. I really love teaching my own children because it is just me and them. If I make a mistake only I know and God.

J and I were doing a music appreciation course with a a friend and we invited someone else along too. It worked out well so we could share the teaching. I got so flustered and self consious trying to teach my friends kids. I felt pressure to be a great teacher to them when in fact I am only still learning. I was being paranoid and insecure. That charater flaw has hung around since my teenage years:(.  I feel now I could have tried harder to do it for the stretch but sometimes on this journey it seems easier to uncomplicate things. I am aware it is still there though( I know I will work on it because God wants me too). The good thing about all that is that I really enjoy my time with J when we do music because we are both learning something together.

Still trying to work out if God wants me to go to this big picture conference in Sydney. Need to pray harder for solutions to get there not financially but transport and time away from the family. I would so love to be a part of it as I missed the last one. I find it amazing to think of all those homeschooling parents under the one roof !!! So many people doing the ame thing as us?

K

I just can't resist!!!

It is 1.15 am and I just can't resist writing something?? I wished that I had started this a long time ago maybe when I started feeling the call to do this homeschooling journey. I had a period of depression about three years ago relating to anemia and just had so many thoughts in my head that I felt that I just had to get them out and writing was how I tried to do that. I didn't get very far mind you, but this would have been easier and it is is nice to know that someone out there might be called to read it and give you a word or thougtht :). I love to hear what others are thinking or feeling and musing about because we all have one thing in common Homeschooling .Here in Oz there are not many of us ... or maybe I should say that are out and easy to find so it is nice to come to a place where there are so many out and easy to find.

I had my friend Sue drop in today for the 1st time in during the day in years and it was so nice to see her. She has always been a champion of what I do even thougth we both know she would never take the same path. That is what friends are for huh??? I hadnt finished my lessons with s and si and had to do llatl blue and she sat thru the whole thing. i must admit I was a little embarrassed but I was so glad I had that to use. I can't say enough good about it. I had J start of llatl red but it was way to easy for him and I moved him to Yellow and it is so great to see him challenged.

He had jumped leaps and bounds in his reading now I want him to do that with his writing.

Must go to bed it is so late but thank goodness tomorrow is Friday.

S and Si's 1st day

Wow!!

S and Si had their 1st official day of school today. I find it strange that I still had some of the same thoughts I had when J had his 1st day. Oh you know wanting to do the best for the kids and wondering if I can do this. I guess I sometimes let the fear creep in much as I try not too. For the most part thought I know in my heart I could not have let those dc go off to school today I enjoy their company so much these days and it makes such a difference. I was wondering the other day about how some mothers I have met have worked full time in their childrens younger years only to quit to be home when their kids started school??? I am not sure I can make sense of that except to say that maybe they felt it was not so demanding anymore and they would have the break of their kids being away for most of the day.

It was so nice to get up at 9 am and the kids got up soon after. If they had been in school they would have had to be up and there!!!.

I like that about this blog I can share those sorts of thoughts where as in the real world with friends that have children in school I try and be very very careful what I say. I enjoyed today we took pictures of the S and Si for a book about me and then made some dinosaur pancakes !! A friend in the US sent then to s for Christmas. I must say I did get the kids to sit down and start math as I made them. It worked out really good. Dh also bought S and Si some great books to celebrate their 1st day. A animal puzzle book for Si and a 3d bug book for S.

I am glad that I started back a few weeks ago because it made today more fun...

Now I must make sure that I do these books about me for the children...

What does matter???

Life is so good right now. The peace and tranquillity of January after the Christmas rush. I just love it, but the kids were just aching for the routine and are glad we started back. How do some parents live without that or there children for that matter?

I can't believe what a homebody I am and it gets worse as I get older. I don't want my kids to be like that. I want then to be happy to meet people and be in new situations and react with kindness and confidence towards other like God would want them to.

I just don't want to run around. I want what we do to have purpose not just because we feel we have to socialize our kids because they are not in a school environment.

So what does matter I must pray on that. I know that as the children get older they will want to do more things and follow their interests so then we can go out.

Must stop these late night blogs but it is the best time ;)

My 1st Blogg!!!

To those who may read this!!!

This Blogg is dedicated to my friend Deborah who inspired me to get a blogg by tagging me.

Today was the 1st day of school for us today. I had tried really hard to get a start last week but I guess The Lord wanted us to wait. It is so good to get a fresh start. I was really feeling burnt out at the end of 2005.

This year I have three children to educate officially, must keep remembering that I have educated them since birth. It was fun the little ones loved it. They finally get to do what older brother does. I just need to pray to take a break when I need one and try not to do to much... without feeling guilty that I am not doing enough.

I am starting LLATL with all of them and I was so pleased having all the LA in the one book today. It was good.

Now to my tagg:

4 jobs you've done:

Waitress, Bank, Call Centre Operator, Mom
4 Movies you could watch over and over:

 1.Room with a View, 2.Four Wedding s and a Funeral, 3.Little Women(Wynona Ryder version) 4.Titanic.
4 places you have lived:

San Francisco, Seattle and my personal favorite Melbourne Australia.
4 tv shows you LOVE to watch:

 ER, West Wing, Survivor

4 places you have been on vacation:

  Europe, Disneyland,

Queensland, Tasmania.
4 websites you visit daily:

Weatherzone, Yahoogroups.com, Way of the Master.com, Deborahs blogg
4 of your favorite foods:

Dips with no seafood, pasta, ice cream and potatoes made any way!!! 
4 places you would rather be right now:

Seattle , San Francisco, Germany or Scotland
4 bloggers you are tagging: I'll check more into this here.